Harris Creek Watershed Game Plan

Game Plan

The Stormwater Project of the Harris Creek Watershed can only be successfully accomplished if there is Community Buy-in and that will require more than just Education about Trash and implementing best management practices for stormwater management. It will require an entire mindset change for this cultural change to take place.It will involve getting to know what the residents in these 17 neighborhoods feel are more pressing issues and how to go about achieving both objectives. Areas with concentrated poverty makes it difficult for residents to lead a more normal existence. To help neutralize this,we will try our best to promote,enhance and expand Community Gardens and Community Gathering Places. We will try and work with the Churches as well as the many groups already involved in cleaning and greening activities (see previous e-blog) in this watershed. Networking (never having to re-invent the wheel) will be a major strategy in trying to connect the people and the places in this watershed.There are many fine people living in these areas that at times become strangulated with the crime,violence and illegal drugs. Our Plan for the Harris Creek Watershed will get nowhere unless we find ways to improve the Quality of Life for all living in the watershed. We need to provide this Hope for them

With these Thoughts in Mind,we will incorporate the Humane Metropolis Baltimore Initiative that recently unrolled in a Conference Workshop sponsored by the Maryland Historical Society and the Parks and People Foundation. The Initiative highlights new initiatives to become more:

Green: Protect and restore urban biodiversity and ecological services.

Healthy: Promote outdoor exercises and fitness,reduce respiratory threats.

Safe: Reduce crime rates;lower risk of fire,floods and other hazards.

Efficient: Employ a better use of water,energy,materials (green buildings,light rail etc).

Equitable: Embrace environmental and social justice,affordable housing,access to jobs.

Neighborly: Foster pride of place and sense of Community



To these six, Dr.Lenneal Henderson added three more to improve even moreso the above. These are Creativity,Communication and Artistic........and to gel this Plan even moreso,Scott Spencer added "diversity" has to be included in every discussion.

Creating Community through Horticulture and adding Gathering Places for the needed Converstations to take place that will highlight Humanity as the most important aspect in our Stormwater Plan for the Harris Creek Watershed.

Respectfully,Raymond D.Bahr MD BHWA